Job growth, education reform, infrastructure and budget planning remain top priorities for the Southeast Valley’s legislative delegation going into next year’s session, lawmakers said Friday at an Arizona Republic forum.

More than a dozen legislators from six districts representing primarily Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert and Tempe, spoke about their priorities and goals for 2012. The group included newly elected state Sen. Jerry Lewis, R-Mesa, and Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2011/12/12/20111212Southeast-Valley-lawmakers-2012-goals.html#ixzz1giOPE5Tj

Job growth, education reform, infrastructure and budget planning remain top priorities for the Southeast Valley’s legislative delegation going into next year’s session, lawmakers said Friday at an Arizona Republic forum.

Tea Party to meet Sat. Dec. 17 in Community Center.

A Tea Party meeting will be held Dec, 17 at Benson Community Center from 10 a.m. to noon. Speakers are Sen. Gail Griffin LD 25 speaking about border issues and Clair Van Steenwyk, candidate for US Senate in 2012.

President-elect Steve Pierce made an appearance on Channel 8’s HORIZON Wednesday night, to talk about the upcoming legislative session.

Tea Party to meet Sat. Dec. 17 in Community Center.

President-elect Steve Pierce made an appearance on Channel 8’s HORIZON Wednesday night, to talk about the upcoming legislative session.

http://tinyurl.com/7h8g9nw

Senate President-elect Steve Pierce sat down with Frank Camacho to talk about the upcoming session.

http://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/politicsunpluggedstevepierce1-135033048.html http://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/politicsunpluggedstevepierce2-135033273.html

Senate President-elect Steve Pierce sat down with Frank Camacho to talk about the upcoming session.

December 5, 2011

To All Senators, Representatives, Staff, Lobbyists, and members of the public

RE: Dual Introduced Identical Bills In preparation for the upcoming Second Regular Session, we would like to forego the practice of introducing identical bills in the House and the Senate. We understand it is considered a fast track method for substitution in the opposite chamber, but it will result in a bill being further assigned to the appropriate committee when the bill crosses over and this creates redundancy in the process. We strongly encourage the Committee Chairs to coordinate on key legislative priorities and identify which sponsor and chamber will initiate the measure. We recognize there will be instances where agreements may not be made in this regard, and many issues have multiple advocates, but please make every effort to avoid dual introduction.

On a similar note, we encourage you to be conservative in the overall number of bills you introduce. The success of legislation is dependant on the commitment of its sponsor. Our goal is to continue to work within the legislative timelines and conclude our business in an efficient manner. We intend to work with all of you to facilitate that outcome.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to working with all of you.

Regards,

STEVE PIERCE

Senate President-elect

ANDY TOBIN

Speaker of the House

In preparation for the upcoming Second Regular Session, we would like to forego the practice of introducing identical bills in the House and the Senate. We understand it is considered a fast track method for substitution in the opposite chamber, but it will result in a bill being further assigned to the appropriate committee when the bill crosses over and this creates redundancy in the process. We strongly encourage the Committee Chairs to coordinate on key legislative priorities and identify which sponsor and chamber will initiate the measure. We recognize there will be instances where agreements may not be made in this regard, and many issues have multiple advocates, but please make every effort to avoid dual introduction.

Spice, bath salts and glass cleaner. These are all names of synthetic drugs that have been plaguing Arizona communities. And to stay ahead of the law, the criminals make minor changes to the chemical makeup of the drugs. Then smoke shops and websites sell the drugs, claiming they are not for human consumption. People are of course using the designer drugs, and many are ending up in the emergency room.

Senator Linda Gray is leading the fight to block these dangerous drugs from getting in the hands of users, mostly young people. In July, she worked with Senate President Russell Pearce to organize a meeting inFlagstaff with law enforcement from around the state. Participants learned what options exist to protect communities from new synthetic drugs. In October, Senator Gray held another meeting with experts to focus on international drug labs concocting new versions of synthetic drugs to skirt the law.

A wide-ranging group has been working on the plan, including police, prosecutors, drug lab experts, the Attorney General’s Office, the courts and the Pharmacy Association.

“We plan to work with the Pharmacy Board to add drugs to the list of controlled substances, preventing them from being sold legally. The Board follows a strict set of criteria and goes through an emergency rule-making process,” says Senator Gray.

“There are too many casualties in this battle. Calls are pouring in to poison control centers and ER visits are increasing because of these synthetic drugs.”

Senator Gray is working closely with Representative Karen Fann on this issue and they expect more details on their proposal as the legislative session nears.

Spice, bath salts and glass cleaner. These are all names of synthetic drugs that have been plaguing Arizona communities. And to stay ahead of the law, the criminals make minor changes to the chemical makeup of the drugs. Then smoke shops and websites sell the drugs, claiming they are not for human consumption. People are of course using the designer drugs, and many are ending up in the emergency room.

“We are disappointed in Governor Brewer’s decision this afternoon to not call a Special Session on redistricting. After all the unconstitutional decisions and alleged violations of law by IRC Chair Mathis, Arizona voters deserve the opportunity to revisit the concept of an independent commission drawing the legislative and congressional maps. The flaws of having one unaccountable and unelected person making such vital decisions for the state have been exposed.

Senate and House leadership have met numerous times with the Governor and her staff, and we have assured her as recently as this morning that we had the votes necessary to put a Prop. 106 repeal or reform on the ballot in February.

We urge the Governor to reconsider her decision to not call a Special Session.”

“We are disappointed in Governor Brewer’s decision this afternoon to not call a Special Session on redistricting. After all the unconstitutional decisions and alleged violations of law by IRC Chair Mathis, Arizona voters deserve the opportunity to revisit the concept of an independent commission drawing the legislative and congressional maps. The flaws of having one unaccountable and unelected person making such vital decisions for the state have been exposed.

In a ceremony on the floor of the State Senate, Jerry Lewis was sworn in on Tuesday. The Mesa Republican will represent LD 18. Arizona Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch administered the oath of office. Lewis was joined by his wife and six of their seven children.

Senator Steve Smith of Maricopa appeared on CBS 5 Morning News to discuss his proposal for teacher pay for performance

http://www.kpho.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6483342

Senator Steve Smith of Maricopa appeared on CBS 5 Morning News to discuss his proposal for teacher pay for performance